Pedal for pianos



(No Model.)

J. W. REED.

PEDAL FOR PIANOS.

No. 461,488. Patented Oct. 20, 1891.

FIG. 5.

NVENTOR:

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AT TEST:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PEDAL FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,488, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed April 6, 1891. Serial No. 387,730- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals for Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the foot-pedal proper of pianos, the object thereof being to provide a novel construction 01' the same that admits of ample range in lateral directions for the feet andlegs of the operator, relieving them from the heretofore'necessary confined or cramped condition, and thereby adding to the comfort and convenience of the operator,

and which avoids in a very perfect manner the springing, twisting, or binding of the parts in use. I attain such objects by the construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of piano-pedals constructed in accordance with my present invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, with a portion of the piano-front in section; and Fig. 3, a similar view of a modified form of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

As represented in the drawings, the footpedals of the piano will have the usual pivotal connection both with the pedal-board l by pivot-brackets 2 and with their respective levers 3, so as to operate in the usual manner. In the present improvement the forward portion of each pedal, and upon which the foot of the operator bears to operate the pedal-action of r the piano, is elongated in a lateral direction, so as to form the horizontally-arranged and laterally-elongated footbars {1, that extend parallel to and in close relation to the front of the piano, as shown. The pivot portion 5 of the backwardly-extending shank 6 of such pedal-levers is correspondingly elongated in a lateral direction, so as to better resist the side strains brought to bear upon said pivots in the present construction, and it is within the scope of the present invention to connect the elongated pivot portion 5 and the elongated foot-bar 4 together by means of a single shank 6, (illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,) orby means of two shanks, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or more, if desired.

I am aware that it. is quite common to provide organ-pedals with laterally-curved tread portions, as well as piano-pedals with curved toes or tread portions; but in neither of such constructions as heretofore used or proposed has provision been made to admit of an extended range for the feet and legs of the op erator and at the same time an equal and con venient operation of the pedals.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pedal-lever for pianos, provided with a foot-bar 4, arranged horizontally and extending laterally in front of the piano in a plane parallel with and close to said pianofront, substantially as set forth.

2. A pedal-lever for pianos, comprising a foot-bar 4, arranged horizontally and extending laterally in front of the piano in a plane parallel with and close to said piano-front, a similarly-extended pivot portion 5, and a connecting-shank portion uniting the two, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 2d day of April, 1891.

JOHN IV. REED.

In presence of ALANSON H. REED, ROBERT BURNS. 

